An indicator framework for assessing ecosystem services in support of the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020

In the EU, the mapping and assessment of ecosystems and their services, abbreviated to MAES, is seen as a key action for the advancement of biodiversity objectives, and also to inform the development and implementation of related policies on water, climate, agriculture, forest, marine and regional planning. In this study, we present the development of an analytical framework which ensures that consistent approaches are used throughout the EU. It is framed by a broad set of key policy questions and structured around a conceptual framework that links human societies and their well-being with the environment. Next, this framework is tested through four thematic pilot studies, including stakeholders and experts working at different scales and governance levels, which contributed indicators to assess the state of ecosystem services. Indicators were scored according to different criteria and assorted per ecosystem type and ecosystem services using the common international classification of ecosystem services (CICES) as typology. We concluded that there is potential to develop a first EU wide ecosystem assessment on the basis of existing data if they are combined in a creative way. However, substantial data gaps remain to be filled before a fully integrated and complete ecosystem assessment can be carried out.

MAES Joachim;  LIQUETE GARCIA Maria Del Camino;  TELLER Anne;  ERHARD Markus;  PARACCHINI Maria-Luisa;  BARREDO CANO Jose Ignacio;  GRIZZETTI Bruna;  CARDOSO Ana;  SOMMA Francesca;  PETERSEN Jan-Erik;  MEINER Andrus;  GELABERT Eva;  ZAL Nihal;  KRISTENSEN Peter;  BASTRUP-BIRK Annemarie;  BIALA Katarzyna;  PIRODDI Chiara;  EGOH Benis Nchine;  DEGEORGES Patrick;  FIORINA Christel;  SANTOS-MARTÍN Fernando;  NARUŠEVIČIUS Vytautas;  VERBOVEN Jan;  PEREIRA Henrique M.;  BENGTSSON Jan;  GOCHEVA Kremena;  MARTA-PEDROSO Cristina;  SNÄLL Tord;  ESTREGUIL Christine;  SAN-MIGUEL-AYANZ Jesus;  PEREZ-SOBA Marta;  GRÊT-REGAMEY Adrienne;  LILLEBO Ana;  MALAK Dania Abdul;  CONDÉ Sophie;  MOEN Jon;  CZÚCZ Bálint;  DRAKOU Evangelia;  ZULIAN Grazia;  LAVALLE Carlo; 

2015-11-25

ELSEVIER B.V.

JRC91996

2212-0416,   

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212041615300504,    https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC91996,   

10.1016/j.ecoser.2015.10.023,